David Nelsen Obituary

David Lynn "Onie" Nelsen, of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away peacefully after a long and courageous health journey. Born in Audubon, Iowa, David was a graduate of Audubon High School and later attended Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC).
David's professional journey began working alongside his father and brothers at Bud's DX before he transitioned to the car sales industry at Christensen Motors. Recognizing his natural ability to connect with people, David's father-in-law introduced him to Talbot Carlson, Inc., where he further developed his successful career in sales. In 1988, David and his family moved to Des Moines, and he began an incredible career at Freightliner of Des Moines. Over the years, through multiple ownership changes, David remained a foundational cornerstone of leadership, serving as General Manager until his retirement in May 2022, when he decided to focus on his health.
David was married to the love of his life, Nancy Talbot Nelsen. Together, they raised two sons, Zac (Katie) and Travis (Stephanie), and found immense joy in fulfilling his role as "GP" to his beloved grandsons, Jacob Tully and Danny Bud.
A true salesman at heart, David never lost his passion for buying and selling cars and motorcycles. He was also an avid bicyclist, a dedicated gun collector, and loved sharing a good bourbon with friends and family. David's legacy of strength, humor, love, and determination will be cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the Mayo Clinic lung transplant team for giving David a second chance at life, and to Dr. Tom Buroker and his team for their unwavering optimism and commitment to improving his quality of life. The family is also forever thankful for the exceptional care and compassion shown by the staff at Taylor House in David's final days.
A private family memorial service will be held this Monday, July 21st at 11:00 AM. A Celebration of Life for friends and extended family will be held on August 23rd from 12 PM to 3 PM at Big Grove Brewery in Des Moines.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Mayo Clinic (Rochester) Lung Transplant Department in memory of David Nelsen. Your generous support will help continue the life-changing work of these organizations, and we are deeply grateful for your kindness.
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